Forget the Prius: MINI Cooper D to get 72.4 mpg

[Jonathan50]

Posted on: May 25th, 2007

Who said Toyota is the only company that has fuel efficiency figured out. BMW will be giving their MINI models technological revisions later this year that will result in increased performance while delivering amazing fuel efficiency; both without the use of hybrid technology.

When production of the new lineup begins in August 2007, all MINI model variants will be supplied with high-tech engine tweaks as standard, providing exceptional economy and minimal emissions without compromising performance. To achieve this BMW will use technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop Function and Switch Point Display. All this will come at no extra cost to future MINI customers.

The MINI Cooper D, which currently has a fuel consumption range of 64.2 mpg, will get an amazing 72.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of just 104 g/km.

http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/05/25/forget-the-prius-mini-cooper-d-to-get-724-mpg/

[slackmaster]

1. You don't want to be in a head-on collision in a Mini

A couple of years ago my company lost an employee that way.

[Jonathan50]

2. I suspect that would be true in a Prius as well..

No car is completely safe, a head on collision at highway speeds is very likely to cause severe injury or death no matter what you are driving.

[Warpy]

8. You don't want to be in a head on collision in any sensible car

especially with all these dinosaurs on the road.

[Clark2008]

10. Amen - that's been my No. 1 complaint about these hybrids.

They're teeny.

I live in a town in which Interstates 40 and 75 intersect. There are so many big trucks on the road (not to mention the tank SUVs) that I wouldn't feel safe in anything smaller than a mid-sized vehicle.

Plus, I find most hybrids void of any real creativity. They're all pretty ugly (that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it).

Now, the Mini is downright cute - and I actually thought about getting one of the regular ones when I was car shopping last year, but didn't because of its size - too small for the interstate driving I must do in order to get to work.

[wuushew]

13. The current Prius is considered a mid-sized car

and the hybrid Camry which my parents own is certainly not a "tiny car".

I believe you have stated in the past you own a Mustang. The only Mustang that could ever be considered large was the 1971 model.

[rusty_parts2001]

14. This 1973 Mustang was a whale too...

[Clark2008]

22. I like that car - looks like a shark.

However, I have a 2005, not a 1973. I was just three in 1973. I would have never been able to own one of those when they were new. :)

[Blue_Tires]

18. the current shelby gt500

tips the scales at nearly 4,000 lbs....iirc the heaviest mustang made to date

[Clark2008]

20. The Prius is much smaller than my Mustang and I wouldn't

own a Toyota if they paid me.

Sorry. I don't like Japanese cars. Never have.

In any case, my Mustang is mid-sized. The Prius is on the larger side of small.

P.S. My Mustang also cost about $4,000 - $5,000 less than a Prius. I couldn't afford one even if I liked it. When are they going to make hybrids more reasonable in price?

[Jonathan50]

21. The Mini is somewhat like a motorcycle..

Small but highly maneuverable.

Your best protection against accidents is not to have one and highly agile cars are much easier to get out of the way with than are big dinosaurs like an SUV.

I rode fast motorcycles for twenty five years and was never touched by a car. The trick is to ride or drive in such a manner that even if you were completely invisible you wouldn't get hit anyway.

A friend of my daughter's rolled a brand new big Chevy SUV three times not too long ago.

With a great deal of luck, no one was hurt.

[bleedingheart]

23. my prius is roomier inside than my corolla was

and with the hatchback...I can carry around more stuff...

[Clark2008]

24. But, you see... I don't like them.

I don't find them attractive. And I don't like Japanese cars. It's a personal thing.

FWIW, your Prius is your car and I'm not judging your taste. Everyone has their own. I happen to think they're ugly and you may well think the cars I like are ugly and that's fine. If we all liked the same things, it would be boring.

But, that said, I'm not paying $5,000 more than I paid for my car for a car I think is ugly.

On the plus side of this argument - my opinion isn't reserved for only the Prius. I think most newer cars are ugly. They all look alike - like bubbles or boxes. Which, btw, makes me wonder. If we're supposed to be trying to save gasoline, why are we building hybrids that aren't very aerodynamic? It looks like sports car styles (which I happen to like) would be more aerodynamic and able to lessen wind-resistance, which would promote better gasoline mileage.

:shrug:

[Jonathan50]

25. Here is a picture of the Dymaxion, designed by Buckminster Fuller.

To have the lowest air resistance.

A teardrop shape has the lowest air resistance of all..



Read about the Dymaxion:

http://www.washedashore.com/projects/dymax/

[Tesha]

27. All cars look the same because all cars are converging on the same aero shapes...

> I think most newer cars are ugly. They all look alike - like
> bubbles or boxes. Which, btw, makes me wonder. If we're supposed
> to be trying to save gasoline, why are we building hybrids that
> aren't very aerodynamic?

All cars look the same because all cars are converging
on the same aero shapes; if you want a car with a rel-
atively "upright" seating position, you get a Prius-
like shape. If you wanted semi-reclining, you get the
Honda Insight.

If you're willing to recline, you get a Ferrari.

Tesha

[Poiuyt]

29. I don't think the Prius is attractive either

I really hate the styling of new cars these days. What's with those "angry cat" headlights? There have been so many beautiful cars throughout history, why can't designers take some clues from those?

Yes, I know that the Prius is a wonderful car, and I might even consider buying one some day. But I also like to take style into my decisions (I'm shallow).

[Warpy]

26. I looked at the Mini, too

but it didn't have any cargo room. I ended up with a Korean econobox with a hatchback. It's not particularly generous (sheets of plywood will have to be delivered) but I'll be able to do my trips to wool growers and come back with enough fleece to keep me busy.

I live near the junction of I40 and I25, so I know what you're talking about. I've been able to find back roads to nearly everywhere, though, so I rarely use either.

I turned down the hybrids because I really couldn't justify the additional expense for the amount of driving I do. My other car is an electric moped and I use that for short errands.

[frogcycle]

30. well shoot, I'm entertaining getting another motorcycle at my advanced age

so the mini would be at least as safe as that - AND have a heater and roof!


btw, I hail from that town where i-40 and I-75 intersect. Did some summer work on the bypass up near Fountain City when I was at UT!

[ContraBass Black]

12. Head-on collisions are likely injurous in any car.

[wuushew]

3. Is the MPG based on American or British gallon?

n/t

[Jonathan50]

4. If you read the article you will know as much as I do..

In other words, I don't know.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Looks like an Imperial gallon...

someone asks if we can get one in the US, and the current US mini gets around 40mpg.

Even so, around 50 mpg without the batteries is pretty good.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. I would definitely say so; note this is a diesel

The last paragraph of the press release is UK-specific stuff (Vehicle Excise Duty rate, and so on).

Mini Cooper 120bhp, automatic 42.2 mpg 0-62mph 10.4s
Mini Cooper 120bhp, manual 48.7 mpg 0-62mph 9.1s
Mini Cooper D 110bhp diesel, manual 64.2 mpg 0-62mph 9.9s

So this will be a 13% improvement on the current Mini diesel.

The moral of the story is: get a manual diesel. They're faster and more efficient than an automatic petrol (gasoline) model. Unfortunately, I don't think diesel Minis are available in the US yet.

[spotbird]

5. All that for only $60,000

http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/23/hybrid-tech-building-an-electric-mini-cooper-will-charge-a-bund/

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

7. Am I missing something?

Your link is talking about something entirely different than the OP.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. And what does the Mini Cooper cost?

I looked at them last year and ended up buying a Scion, which is very similar. I was shocked at the price of the Mini Cooper.

[Jonathan50]

11. They are expensive

But the resale value is very high..

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/small_cars/source/7.htm

I also suspect it will drive rings around the Scion. :shrug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. It's a neat little car

But way out of my price range. My Scion is great. I am very happy with it. It's also a little bit roomier than the Cooper. The one thing I don't like about it is no trunk. And there is even less of a trunk in the Cooper.

I wish now I had bought a Prius but they had none in stock when I bought my Scion. I definitely plan on getting a Prius for my next vehicle, unless another hybrid looks better to me.

[natrat]

16. diesil mini not coming to the US

[TreasonousBastard]

31. Base sticker is $18,050, nicely equipped, but...

good luck finding one at that price.

Only one Mini dealer out here, and he's not shy about adding up the options.

[OnionPatch]

19. Cool, but totally out of my budget

:(

There is a decent option for those of us who can't afford cars in this price range; I'm buying a Yaris for my next car. 40mpg is pretty darned good for an inexpensive, non-hybrid auto. http://www.toyota.com/yaris

[trashcanistanista]

28. I get that on my Civic on Hwy.

IF and WHEN I drive the limit!!